Travel back in time, and all over the world with a two-thousand-year-old Irish Druid in Kevin Hearne’s story collection, Besieged.  Atticus O’Sullivan relates some of his adventures to his apprentice, Granuaile, and his Irish wolfhound, Oberon. There are a few other storytellers as well in this entertaining anthology that features gods and demons and witches and Shakespeare.

That’s right. My favorite story is “Goddess at the Crossroads”, Atticus’ story of meeting Shakespeare, and accompanying the drunken playwright on a nighttime adventure. Shakespeare had heard of witches who were to meet, and that story of robbery and murder and violence led to the witches in “Macbeth”. But, it’s a story only a Druid could tell.

There’s already something creepy about carnivals, but “The Demon Barker of Wheat Street” reveals how horrifying a Kansas carnival can become. Atticus needs Oberon’s help in this story of imps and demons and death.

Over the course of Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles, Atticus has traveled the world, trying to avoid avenging gods. Like Rick Riordan, Hearne incorporates mythology and religion, but these accounts are not for children. These stories are violent, irreverent, and fun. In Besieged, Hearne incorporates legends and gods that are timeless, and fascinating.

Kevin Hearne’s website is www.kevinhearne.com

Besieged by Kevin Hearne. Del Rey. 2017. ISBN 9780399181733 (hardcover), 235p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.